The Bassoon: A Loving Tribute To The Nerdiest Of Instruments

By Greta Johnsen
Rainn Wilson
Rainn Wilson with his bassoon in high school band. Photo provided by Rainn Wilson.
Rainn Wilson
Rainn Wilson with his bassoon in high school band. Photo provided by Rainn Wilson.

The Bassoon: A Loving Tribute To The Nerdiest Of Instruments

By Greta Johnsen
WBEZ brings you fact-based news and information. Sign up for our newsletters to stay up to date on the stories that matter.

Consider the bassoon.

It is the orchestra’s largest woodwind. It is significantly difficult to play, according to EncyclopediaBritannica , because the placement of the finger holes “is scientifically irrational.” Plus, Nerdette host Greta Johnsen used to play one.

In this chock-full-of-bassoons episode, we talk about the history of the instrument with bassoonist and culture writer Eileen Reynolds, we jam with a principal bassoonist from the Chicago Philharmonic and we even call up the self-proclaimed “Bassoon King,” Rainn Wilson.

Wilson, best known for his role as Dwight Schrute on The Office, created quite a stir in the bassoon community with the release of his 2015 autobiography The Bassoon King.

Join Johnsen, Nerdette co-host emeritus Tricia Bobeda and this bevy of bassoon buffs for more bassoon than you knew you needed.

This episode originally aired on August 11, 2017.